DOTHAN, Alabama -- Auburn and Florida have played more than their fair share of classic games over the years.

In 83 meetings between the two teams over the years, 33 games have been decided by a touchdown or less, a series full of upsets and national title hopes both crushed and realized.

Now, the week after the SEC announced its decision to continue with a 6-1-1 format, the reality remains that Auburn and Florida are now on track to play each other only once every six years, a development that bothers Florida's Will Muschamp and fans of the rivalry through the years.

Auburn coach Gus Malzahn, a consistent proponent of the 6-1-1, recognized the greatness of the Tigers-Gators rivalry in his Tiger Trek stop in Dothan on Wednesday night.

"Well, obviously, it's a very good rivalry," Malzahn said. "There's no doubt there's been some classic games in that rivalry. I'm all for that."

But with Georgia as Auburn's permanent opponent and the Tigers in the SEC West, it's a rivalry that will have only sporadic installments in the SEC going forward.

In reality, the rivalry has been in that position since the SEC eliminated the schedule with two permanent opponents apiece in 2001. Since then, Florida and Auburn have only played four times, and only three in the past 11 seasons.

For Malzahn, the key was preserving the eight-game conference schedule.

"Like I said earlier, the eight-game schedule we've had, the way things have been in the past, that's fine with me," Malzahn said. "I think we'll figure out more as we go into this four-team playoff each year."